Big Brake swap web page in progress - please add too

[85crownHPP]

.

http://www.grandmarq.net/85crownLX/pages/Big_Brakes.html

Its a bit rough, but eventually Ill get more pics and info in it... thats where you mangs come in.

If you have any pics, info, tips, corrections or suggestions, please post them here and Ill add the pics and copy-and-past the text into the page.

Also if you know of anymore threads to add to the list of big brakes threads, link em and Ill add em!!!

This is one page of many I plan to make, organized in a "main menu" of box mods, along with other pages for maintinance and FAQ pages and links.

http://www.grandmarq.net/85crownLX/pages/Big_Brakes.html

[mrltd]

Do a search. Lots of info :P

[85crownHPP]

I did, and used everything I found.

[82LTDQS]

Yesss!, this is good stuff. Im in the process of doing this. I will also advise.

[82LTDQS]

Ok, ok. Lots of info for me. Once the process is completed, Its seems as if the upper ball joint is adjustable to the upper control arm. I assume this because of the long bolt holes. It looks as if the ball joint can be slid in and out. What does that mean as far as getting an alignment? Do I give the shop the chasis year/make/model or the (info from donor car) front end's year/make/model??????

[gadget73]

The late style front end is aligned by adjusting the cams at the ball joint. Those are the funny looking large nuts under the lock nuts. What I did with mine was to set the upper control arms as close as I could to where the originals were, then I took it to the shop and told them to set it for an 86 Towncar. It drives very nicely, so I guess that was the correct solution. I had tried other settings before, and it never drove very well.

[Lincolnmania]

yes mine is aligned for a 86 town car also.....i had it done in 2004

[mrltd]

Mine is aligned to custom specs. I like the way it drives and handles. It's a little much for most cars though.

One of the original panther chassis designers said -.5* camber and as much positive caster as you can run would work the best. With the big brakes able to do double adjustment you can run around 7* caster. my car is set at 6.5/7* positive caster and negative 2 degrees of camber.

[Blaze86Vic]

After doing the conversion on my car I am fully capable of running as much as -3.5 degrees of camber on both sides. For the street I am only running -1.25 degrees of camber with 6.5 degrees of caster. For the track I would drive with -0.2 degrees of toe-in (that means that it's a toed out alignment) and for the street 0.1 toe-in.

[gadget73]

I had mine set that way and the steering was excessively stiff at low speeds and somewhat unresponsive on the highway. It feels a lot better with stock specs. Probably with a stock steering box the extra caster would give a much better feel. My steering box is pretty stiff though, stiffer than most of the rebuilt ones I've felt. It doesn't really need the extra caster to give it a nice feel. It probably also depends on driving style and personal preference, I don't really drive very aggressively, and I've got the suspension set up accordingly with the stock springs and whatnot.

[Blaze86Vic]

Maxing caster is a performance effect, it does increase centering force, but also effects camber gain in turning. More caster = more camber when turned, IE camber when you need it.

[82LTDQS]

Im not as hardcore though. I do agree in simple stock specs (for me.) So, let me make sure I am clear here. Just ask the alignment guy to set it to a 1986 towncar??? Nice and simple??

[mrltd]

Or whatever your chassis is. They probably are all quite close though.

[gadget73]

I dont think they changed the specs much between 79-91. I told them 86 Towncar because thats what I drive, and it would be less confusing. If you have an 82 CS chassis, tell them to use those specs.


I drive straight most of the time, I don't really need corner carving ability. I like how it feels set stock. Boring I know, but I like to cruise down the highway for long periods of time and the stock alignment specs are pretty much geared for that. I didn't like how darty it was set with a lot of caster, and I didn't like how numb the wheel was. Its much more stable feeling now, and responds as I'd expect, not launching into a turn with the slightest tweak of the steering wheel. Thats probably desirable for some types of driving, but not mine.

[85crownHPP]

added some more small bits, links, and a video of bushing burning fun to the webpage